Striking training apparatus

ABSTRACT

A striking apparatus is provided. The striking apparatus may be mounted to a wall and at least partially supported by a movement device in contact with a floor. The striking apparatus has a plurality of pads which may receive strikes from a user. Spring assemblies are utilized to absorb force applied by the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/298,943, filed on Nov.17, 2011, which is currently pending.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to striking devices used to train individualsfor fighting in sporting events and in combat situations, as well as forindividuals who wish to use these training methods for personal fitness,weight loss and recreational purposes.

In particular, it relates to training devices for the practice of hand,foot, elbow and knee strikes for improvement of skills in the area ofMartial Arts, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Kick Boxing, Law Enforcement,Military, or any other field where a total body workout is desired whilepracticing fighting skills.

With the ever growing interest in martial arts by both civilians and themilitary (particularly mixed martial arts), a sturdy device that willallow a user to practice and improve skills without causing harm toothers would be beneficial.

In the prior art, it is often necessary to have a partner hold astriking device; those wishing to improve their skills when they arealone are limited in their choices. Injuries are also a common problemwhen holding striking devices for others.

A key part of true combat fighting is the use of upper cut strikes,elbow strikes and knee strikes. There is no prior art that we couldlocate that is designed to allow a user to practice elbow and kneestrikes, particularly in combination with hand strikes and kicks,without multiple equipment adjustments.

The use of various types of padded striking devices which could beutilized to improve hitting and kicking skills using some type of springmechanism is well known in the prior art. As far back as U.S. Pat. No.615,700 issued to Hess on Dec. 13, 1898 shows a punching bag with aspring mechanism. Today, large heavy punching bags, which are usuallymounted by a single harness from an overhead support, largely representthe state of the art in providing striking practice for developingkicking and punching skills. An important deficiency experienced withthis art is they are only useful in developing punching skills ofstraight punches, or “hook” punches, (a close punch delivered from theside). Lacking in this art is the ability to develop an uppercut punch(a rapidly rising blow delivered with the arm bent up), or strikes withthe knees or elbows from above or below.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472 issued to Anquetil on Oct. 27, 1987, atraining dummy for combat sports is described. When reviewed closely,several deficiencies are found.

Most prior art also fails to provide the so-called “bounce-back afterthe strike is delivered. This is a feeling that occurs in an actualevent when an individual lands a strike on another person. In most priorart, a strike lands on a dull and unresponsive surface which 1) does notaccurately simulate what occurs in an actual fighting situation and 2)does not provide an ‘incentive’ for continued strikes.

United States Patent Application No. US 2004/0220021 A1, Nov. 4, 2004 toBryant for a Martial Arts Practice Apparatus which indicates a wallmounted device with a singular striking pad mounted on wood withsprings. It includes an electrical circuit that blinks. This device doesnot appear to address the issue of durability, particularly whenutilized for military, law enforcement, or high level martial arts. Inparticular, the electrical circuitry may not be practical when the unitis experiencing heavy usage. The forces involved would eventually loosenwires or damage the lights which could render this concept useless.Application 0220021 also does not appear to be practical for thepractice of knee, elbow and upper cut strikes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,029 describes a device “. . . comprising a base andat least two arc supports of differing heights”. The inventor goes on todescribe the invention as one that can be used by “students . . . of avariety of size and strengths”. It appears that the inventor is usingthe terms ‘size’ and ‘strength’ synonymously. The invention in questionmakes a provision for adjusting the tension of the springs, which wouldallow users of different strengths to use the machine (note that thiswould be AFTER the machine was adjusted), however, there are only twopads, and the heights of the pads are not variable. Therefore, it wouldbe impractical, if not impossible, for a 5-year-old student to use thedevice and for a 25-year-old to use it without adjustment. Our deviceallows for use by users of all sizes without any adjustments whatsoever.Also, because the pads of U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,029 are set at a singleheight, it only allows the practice of strikes at those two levels, notat a variety of levels as our device allows. The mounting of one padbehind the other in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,029 leads us to believe that itis, at best, impractical, and at worst, dangerous, to perform kickingstrikes on the back pad. Therefore, this limits kicking strikes to onlyone pad that must be adjusted multiple times.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472 issued to Anquetil on Oct. 27, 1987, atraining dummy for combat sports is described. When reviewed closely,several deficiencies are found. The side to side movement of U.S. Pat.No. 4,702,472 does not necessarily accurately simulate an opponent. Whenfighting an actual opponent their tactical movements would be based onreal attacks and counter attacks, and not random, side to side movementsbased on chance. In addition, the 5 degree forward angle startingposition of U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472 results in an unrealistic startingpoint for the athlete when striking the device. Fighters of alldifferent styles would be hard pressed to find an opponent leaning 5degrees forward with their face or body. In one embodiment, FIG. 2, ofU.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472 it shows arms and legs but they cannot engagethe athlete with realistic skills, and appear very suspect todurability.

The numerous and varied assembly groups that are used in U.S. Pat. No.4,702,472 require a plethora of moving parts. These parts may requireperiodic maintenance and replacement, adding an additional downtime andexpense. Further, there are numerous assembly groups and componentswithin the device that appear to be working against one another tocreate the intended movements. For instance, the spring used to returnthe dummy to “it's most inclined position forward” (along the verticalaxis), is fine for that purpose, however, stresses will be created onthe mounting point of the spring when the bearing shaft allows the dummyto move along the horizontal axis. Another area of concern is the use ofa tubular sheath over the vertical mounting element. This type of designmay tend to bind up under moderate or heavy use. In summary, whenstrikes and kicks are delivered with great force, and/or in a continuousfashion over a long period of time, the durability of U.S. Pat. No.4,702,472 is an issue.

Another shortcoming of U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472 is that using a slidinghead frame to perform upper cuts and requiring a hydraulic or screw jackto adjust the devices height requires multiple adjustments that stop, orslow down the flow of a workout. Our devices strategically placed,slanted pad surfaces require no adjustment, allowing an athlete, from anaverage 5 year old, up to a skilled MMA fighter, to work out on thedevice using the same strikes, kicks, elbows, knees or any combinationof these without any adjustments or stoppage in the flow of the workout.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472, the inventor describes a “fixing element 6of the support can be attached to a wall of training building or proppedup between its ceiling and floor”. In the description, the sturdiness ofthe method of attachment to floor, ceiling or wall is so vague it begsfor further description or proof for practical, real world usage.Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,472 lacks the sturdiness and practicalityof our attachment to the wall.

Most prior art also fails to provide the proper “bounce-back” after thestrike is delivered. This is a feeling that occurs in an actual eventwhen an individual lands a strike on another person. In most prior art,a strike lands on a dull and unresponsive surface which 1) does notaccurately simulate what occurs in an actual situation and 2) does notprovide an ‘incentive’ for continued strikes.

SUMMARY

All of the devices above are potential solutions for the intendedpurpose. However, new improvements are constantly being added to thestore of prior art. The mere fact that so many patents have issued onsuch devices is indicative of consumer interest and demand. Anyimprovement or innovation which results in a better user experience, canbe used in multiple disciplines, allows for a wider variety of practicestrikes and provides a more efficient or economical construction whichwould fulfill a need in this area.

In summary, the advantages that this device provides include, but arenot limited to: 1) designed for three styles of fighting, combat,competitive and recreational, 2) safety and reduction of potentialinjuries because you strike the device and not an opponent, and iteliminates the need for a partner to hold pads 3) saving floor spacebecause it has a smaller ‘footprint’ than much of the prior art 4) thespring mechanisms in combination with the caster assembly providesbetter user experience than is available in the prior art 5) the caster(or similar) assembly eliminates the need to anchor the device to thefloor 6) the caster (or similar) assembly allows the device to movesmoothly which provides an added incentive to the athlete to have alonger and more vigorous workout 7) it is specifically designed to allowfor the practice of hand, foot, knee and elbow strikes in one device,without the need of adjustments which is a feature that is limited ornonexistent in prior art. 8) It can be used by individuals of any sizeand ability, at the same time, without adjustments.

In one aspect, the present invention is designed to provide users at alllevels and abilities an automatic incentive to have longer and morevigorous workouts through the use of the multiple spring mechanisms incombination with the caster (or similar) assembly which creates amoveable center post. When struck by a user at a low level of force, thespring mechanism on the striking pads will move and return to itsoriginal position almost immediately, and provide an audible cue to theuser. When struck with a higher level of force, not only does thestriking pad move, but the spring mechanism on the wall mount assemblyabsorbs some of the force, while at the same time the entire device isallowed to move smoothly along the horizontal plane because it ismounted on a caster or similar assembly, and is not secured to thefloor. This provides a strong incentive for an athlete to keep workingto have the device move towards the wall.

The prior art lacks the spring loaded assemblies that work inconjunction with, in our embodiments, a balloon caster (any othersuitable device could be used) that is mounted to the bottom of the maincenter post. This provides the desired feel when struck or kicked withheavy force from a powerful and experienced athlete. Two other benefitsof the balloon caster are that it allows the center post to smoothlyglide horizontally, and it helps to provide the necessary response fromour embodiment when struck with the downward force of an elbow orsimilar strike. These unique characteristics are key to providing anincentive for the athlete to have longer and more vigorous workouts. Ourtwo large spring assemblies hold a center post which is placed on aballoon caster, wheel, moveable track, or any other similar suitabledevice, to help support the unit and ensure its smooth backward movementand instant replacement to its original position of readiness whenengaged. This configuration also provides a significant reduction in thenoise and vibration caused by the use of our device.

It is an object of this invention to provide an audible and tactile cueto the operator to increase the incentive for hitting.

It is also an object of this invention that individuals of all heights,ages and skill levels can practice striking techniques on the sameembodiment without having to adjust or change it in any way. This alsoallows an instructor to have students of different sizes and abilitiesuse the equipment all at the same time.

It is another object of this invention that the various heights andangles of the striking pads allow a user to practice a wide variety oftechniques including from lower body “knee strikes” and “shin kicks” toupper body punches and strikes. The option of practicing upper cutstrikes and knee and elbow strikes from above and below are alsoincorporated in the embodiment. A unique feature of the embodiment isthat all of these techniques can be practiced without any adjustments tothe embodiment.

It is yet a further object of this invention that the apparatus can beused for military, sporting and civilian applications.

It is still a further object of this invention that it be used toimprove the aim, force and technique of a wide variety of strikes andkicks with the hands, feet, elbows and knees without having to adjustthe machine in any way. One minor ‘on the fly’ placement of a headassembly allows the user to practice multiple styles of head levelkicks.

It is yet another object of this invention to maximize efficient spaceutilization and provide ease of installation. The device has a smaller‘footprint’ than free standing devices or a suspended heavy bag. It iswall mounted to increase stability and durability and can be mountedsixteen inches on center to match standard studs. The mounting can alsobe adapted to other types of wall construction. The wall is protectedfrom damage and excessive noise by the unique shock absorbing propertiesof the wall mount assembly and caster assembly.

It is also another object of this invention that users of the unit canpractice alone without need for a partner to hold a striking pad.

It is another object of this invention that the apparatus helps toeffectively train a student while minimizing the risk of injury to themor others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.0 shows a dynamic view of one embodiment of the strikingapparatus.

FIG. 1.1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the striking apparatus.

FIG. 1.2 shows a top view of one embodiment of the striking apparatus.

FIG. 1.2.1 shows a top view of the connector channel assembly attachedto the main post.

FIG. 1.1.1 shows a dynamic view of an embodiment of the strikingapparatus.

FIG. 2.0 shows a side view of an embodiment of the striking apparatus.

FIG. 2.1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the striking apparatus.

FIG. 2.1.1 shows a side view of the striking pad assembly in anembodiment of the striking apparatus.

FIG. 3.0 shows a dynamic view of the striking pad of an embodiment ofthe striking apparatus.

FIG. 3.1 shows a side view of the striking pad of an embodiment of thestriking apparatus.

FIG. 4.0 shows a dynamic view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 4.1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 4.2 shows a dynamic view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 4.3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 4.4 shows a dynamic view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 4.5 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 5.0 shows a cut down view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 5.1 is a cut down view of an embodiment of the striking padassembly.

FIG. 6.0 is a dynamic view of an embodiment of the connector channelassembly.

FIG. 6.1 is a detail view of an embodiment of the bottom retainer pin.

FIG. 6.2 is a cut away view of an embodiment of the connector channelassembly.

FIG. 6.2.1 is a detail view of an embodiment of the carriage boltassembly.

FIG. 7.0 is a side view of an embodiment of the striking pad assemblyattached to the main post.

FIG. 7.0.1 is a detail view of an embodiment of the mounting rods.

FIG. 7.0.2 is a drawing of an embodiment of the caster assembly.

FIG. 7.1 is a side view of an embodiment of the striking pad attached tothe main post assembly.

FIG. 7.1.1 is a detail view of an embodiment of the mounting rods.

FIG. 8.0 is a dynamic view of an embodiment of the wall mount assembly.

FIG. 8.1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the wall mountassembly.

FIG. 9.0 is a dynamic view of an embodiment of the bushing assembly.

FIG. 9.1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the bushing assembly.

FIG. 10.0 is a dynamic view of an embodiment of the speed bag attachmentassembly.

FIG. 10.1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the speed bagattachment assembly.

FIG. 10.2 is a side view of an embodiment of the speed bag attachmentassembly attached to a striking pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In summary, the advantages that this device provides include, but arenot limited to: 1) designed for three styles of fighting: combat,competitive and recreational; 2) enhanced safety and reduction ofpotential injuries because a user strikes the device and not anopponent, and it eliminates the need for a partner to hold pads; 3)saved floor space because it has a smaller ‘footprint’ than much of theprior art 4) the spring mechanisms in combination with the casterassembly providing better user experience than is available in the priorart; 5) the caster (or similar) assembly eliminates the need to anchorthe device to the floor; 6)the caster (or similar) assembly allows thedevice to move smoothly which provides an added incentive to the athleteto have a longer and more vigorous workout; 7) it is specificallydesigned to allow for the practice of hand, foot, knee and elbow strikesin one device, without the need of adjustments which is a feature thatis limited or nonexistent in prior art; and 8) it can be used byindividuals of any size and ability, at the same time, withoutadjustments.

Referring to FIG. 1.0 the first embodiment consists of four generalelements. The first element is a striking pad assembly 2 which isattached to a connector channel assembly 3 which is attached to a mainpost 1 which is attached to a wall mount 4. The wall mount 4 is thenattached securely to a wall 101. In one embodiment, the wall mount 4 maybe attached to the wall 101 through the use of a stud 102 of a framingof the wall 101. Each of the elements is described in detail below. Inone embodiment, the striking pad assembly 2 comprises a striking pad 20and accessories of a spring assembly shown in FIGS. 4.1, 4.3 and 4.5.FIGS. 3.0 and 3.1 show striking pad assembly 11, an alternativeembodiment of striking pad assembly 2 and 9, attached to post 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5.0 and 5.1 a striking pad embodiment should providea ‘user friendly’ impact surface that will withstand repeated strikesand kicks without being damaged. It should be firm and resilient,however it should not cause harm or discomfort to the user. In oneembodiment, the pad may be comprised of a commercially available foamrubber or soft stuffing material 24, 25, 26 (FIG. 5.1) which, ifnecessary, can be layered in various ways to achieve the effectdescribed above. This inner material is covered by a suitable materialsuch as vinyl or canvas 21. In a particular embodiment a 14 oz per sq.yard PVC vinyl coated polyester; however, any suitable material will besufficient.

In one embodiment, the striking pad 20 (FIG. 4.0) is designed to providethree striking surfaces that take full advantage of a built in springmechanism to provide the proper tactile and audible feedback to theuser. The surfaces of the striking pad provide user friendly contactpoints for strikes with the hands, elbows, knees and feet. In oneembodiment, the striking pad 20 (see FIG. 5) may be 15 inches in lengthfrom top to bottom in the rear and tapering to 9 inches in the front.This shape provides sufficient surface area for a user to strike,however one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that otherdimensions providing an adequate strike surface area may also beprovided. To provide the surface area shown in FIG. 5, the top and thebottom of the pads are evenly tapered by 3 inches from front to rear.This creates a slanted surface at the top and bottom of the pads forelbow (top) and knee (bottom) strikes to be practiced. The front of thepad then becomes 9 inches in height, which is the approximate height ofa human face and therefore an effective sized target area for hand andfoot strikes. When viewed from the top the pad will appear to be anearly half circle as shown in FIG. 1.2. The back of the striking padsurface may be supported by a sheet of pressboard 22 or similarmaterial, which may contain four threaded inserts 23 (FIG. 5.0). Thefour threaded inserts 23 are placed to line up with receiving holes 49on a pad mounting plate 12. Given the size of the striking pad 20 shownin FIG. 5.0, four connection points between the pad and mounting plate12 (FIG. 4.1, 4.3, 4.5) were found to be adequate, however a strikingpad of alternative sizing may require more of fewer connection points.

The pad mounting plate 12 provides a firm mounting surface for thestriking pad 20. Its primary purpose is to allow for movement of thestriking pad 20 along a mounting rod 13, (with the help of the bushingassembly as shown in FIG. 9.1) when struck by a user, particularly witha comparatively low level of force.

Referring to FIG. 4.1, the pad mounting plate 12 is comprised of, forexample, a ¼″×8″×12″ plate formed from hot rolled steel (HRS) which isconfigured with four receiving holes 49 which line up with the threadedinserts 23 on striking pad 20. The pad mounting plate 12 shown has fourmounting rods 13 welded to it. In the embodiment shown, the pad mountingplate 12 is firmly secured to the back of striking pad 11 20 by securingit through the pad mounting plate receiving holes 49 into the threadedinserts 23 using 4 bolts 50, optionally with lock washers and flatwashers.

Referring to FIG. 4.1, the pad mounting plate 12 is connected to a padconnector plate 14. The pad connector plate may serve three or morepurposes: First it may provide a firm surface for the pad mounting plate12 to move against when struck by a user; second it may provide a meansof fastening the entire striking pad assembly (FIG. 4.1) to a connectorchannel assembly, shown in FIG. 6.0, that can be easily and quicklymounted and removed by the user; third, it may provide a mountingsurface for the bushing assemblies shown in FIG. 9.1. In one embodiment,the pad connector plate 14 consists of a ⅜″×8″×12″ plate formed fromcold roll steel (CRS). The pad connector plate 14 in this embodiment hastwelve holes drilled in it, three in each corner. In one embodiment,these may be UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) mountingholes 66. The center hole lines up with the position of the mountingrods 13 that are welded to the pad mounting plate 12. On either side ofthis center hole are two smaller holes, all three of the UHMW mountingholes 66 are designed to line up with the UHMW holes 61 which aredrilled into a UHMW bushing block 46 (FIG. 9.1). The current embodimentuses the UHMW bushing block 46 which is comprised of UHMW material,sized to fit and drilled with the UHMW holes 61 described above.

In order to create the necessary movement of the striking pad, the padmounting plate 12 and pad connector plate 14 are assembled with thebushing assembly as described herein. Referring to FIGS. 9.0 and 9.1,compression spring one 48 is placed over the mounting rod 13. The padconnector plate 14 is then slid into place by inserting the four centerUHMW mounting holes 66 over the mounting rods 13 (FIG. 4.1 shows thismore clearly). The UHMW bushing block 46 is then put into place byplacing the center UHMW hole 61 over the mounting rod 13 and is securedwith the UHMW bushing screws 62 which are placed through both thesmaller UHMW holes 61 on the UHMW bushing block 46, and then throughUHMW mounting holes 66 on the pad connector plate 14. A washer 63 isinserted on the two outer screws 62 on either side of the pad connectorplate 14. A washer 63 is inserted on the two outer screws 62 on eitherside of the pad connector plate option one 14, and is then secured withUHMW nuts 64.

The size, length and resistance characteristics of compression springone 48 can be varied to achieve the desired effect and resistance. Inone embodiment, shown in FIG. 9.1, several flat washers, 47 are placedon the mounting rods 13 on the opposite side of the UHMW bushing block46 from the compression spring one 48 to be used as spacers. It shouldbe understood that any hardware that can act as an effective spacerwould suffice in this situation. However in this embodiment a number ofwashers are used because they allow for simple adjustments based on thelength of the compression spring one 48 being used. To complete thebushing assembly attachment to the pad connector plate 14, a mountingrod nut 65 is threaded on the mounting rod 13 and is loosely secured tothe flat washers 47. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand, the number, position, materials and configuration of themounting rods 13 and bushing assemblies can be varied to achieve thedesired effect.

One of the features of the device is the ability to quickly and easilyremove the striking pads if desired. Therefore, a mounting mechanismmust be built in to the device to allow for this. Referring again toFIG. 4.1, one embodiment of the pad connector plate 14 is configuredwith two tabs 51, 52 which are welded to the back of the plate. Top tab51 is shown with a tab receiving hole 58 through which it will receive apull pin 19 (see FIG. 6) when top tab 51 is placed into top tab guideslot 54. The bottom tab 52 is shown with a bottom tab notch 59 cut in itwhich will ultimately line up with a bottom retainer pin 29 (FIG. 6.1)when bottom tab 52 is placed into bottom tab guide slot 56. The strikingpad assembly 2 (FIG. 4.0) can then easily be mounted and removed fromthe device by placing top tab 51 and bottom tab 52 (FIG. 4.1) into toptab guide slot 54 and bottom tab guide slot 56 (FIG. 6) and thenallowing bottom tab notch 59 to rest on the bottom retainer pin 29 andsecuring with pull pin 19 which is placed through pull pin receivingholes 57 and 78.

In order to provide an effective user experience in regards to the kneeand elbow strikes, the device must provide movement in a plurality ofdirections. In addition, the compression spring one 48 and the bushingassembly 15 are not durable enough to withstand the pressures of heavyblows from experienced fighters particularly with knees and elbows. Thisissue is solved in one embodiment with the addition of a connectorchannel assembly (FIGS. 6.0, 6.1 and 6.2). Referring to FIG. 6, theconnector channel assembly shown consists of a connector channel post53. The connector channel post 53 has a bottom retainer pin 29 (FIG.6.1) welded inside it at a point that will allow access through thebottom tab guide slot 56 for bottom tab notch 59 to rest on when mounted(as explained above).

The front of the channel connector assembly has four slots 54, 55, 56and 60. Slot 54 is positioned to align with the top tab 51 of the padmounting plate and slot 56 placed to line up with the bottom tab 52built into the pad connector plate 14. The top tab guide slot 54 in thisembodiment is approximately 3 inches in length. The bottom tab guideslot 56 is also approximately 3 inches in length. The connector channelpost 53 will have a right pull pin receiving hole 57 and a left pull pinreceiving hole 78 drilled into it.

When the striking pad assembly 2 (in FIG. 4) is mounted to the connectorchannel post 53 (FIG. 6), the hole 58 in the top tab 51 (FIG. 4.1) willalign with the right pull pin receiving hole 57 and left pull pinreceiving hole 78 (FIG. 6) to allow the user to place the pull pin 19through both the holes 57 and 78 and the top tab receiving hole 58, tofirmly secure the striking pad assembly. The connector channel post 53also has a bottom retainer pin 29 (FIG. 6.1) welded into it so that itcan be accessed through the bottom tab guide slot 56. The bottomretainer pin 29 is configured to line up with the bottom tab notch 59(FIG. 4.1) of the pad mounting plate, when the striking pad assembly 2is in the mounted position.

When a user wishes to mount a striking pad assembly to the connectorchannel post 53 (FIG. 6), they will place the top tab 51 and the bottomtab 52 of the pad connector plate into the top tab guide slot 54 and thebottom tab guide slot 56 near the top of the two slots. The striking padassembly can then be easily lowered so that notch 59 on the padconnector plate bottom tab 52 rests securely on the bottom retainer pin29 to hold the bottom portion of the striking pad. The pull pinreceiving hole 57 on the connector channel post 53 will line up with thehole 58 in the top tab 51 and a pull pin 19 can then be placed throughguide hole 57 and through the hole 58 in the top tab 51 to securely holdthe striking pad assembly 2 in place.

The channel connector assembly must now be attached to a main post in amanner that provides for the movement and durability described above. Inone embodiment, the channel connector assembly may be attached to themain post by using, for example, a spring assembly such as the one shownin FIG. 7. The assembly is shown attached to a main post 1 (FIG. 7) withthe use of two mounting rods 32, which are attached through the mainpost 1 and have a quantity of threading on one end which will be used tosecure the channel connector assembly to the main post 1 with a channelto main post nut 67. The mounting rods 32 have a compression spring 33on each of them which will provide additional movement and resistance topunches, kicks, and elbow strikes.

The front of the channel connector assembly may have two access holes 55and 60 drilled into it. These holes may line up with bushings 28 (FIG.6.0) that are inserted into the back of the connector channel post 53(FIG. 6.2). When assembled, the channel connector assembly (FIG. 6),will be placed onto the main post 1 (FIG. 7) by allowing mounting rods32 to be inserted into the bushing 28.

Referring to FIG. 6.2, in one embodiment of the channel connectorassembly, the connector channel post 53 may comprise an audible feedbackdevice. In one embodiment, the back of the connector channel may havesix additional holes drilled in it. Four of these holes will be used toattach a carriage bolt assembly 27. Each carriage bolt assembly 27should be placed close to the top and bottom of the back of theconnector channel post 53, as indicated in the drawings in FIG. 6.2.Once secured, upon application of an appropriate force on the strikingpad, the heads of the carriage bolts will strike the main post 1 toproduce an audible effect. This audible effect may provide positivefeedback to a user, informing user that proper force was delivered.

The other two of the six holes may be used for two bushings 28 (FIG.6.0, 6.2). The bushings 28 may be placed equidistant from the top andbottom of the connector channel post 53 to optimize effectiveness. Eachbushing 28 will have two small holes on its outer circumference thatreceive two stainless steel rivets to fasten to the back of theconnector channel post 53. The bushing must be durable enough towithstand the intended forces.

The main post assembly (FIG. 7) is the central structure of the presentinvention, in that all of the features of the device are built either infront of or behind the main post. The main post is durable and securewith the ability to mount one of a plurality of striking pads and theirpreferably associated hardware.

In one embodiment the main post assembly 1 is 2½ inch square by 3/16inch wall by 67½ inch HRS. Eight 5″ mounting rods 32 with threaded endsmay be welded through the main post 1 in positions that line up with theposition of the two bushings 28 that are located on each of the fourconnector channel posts 53. The threaded end of the mounting rods 32will extend outward. The mounting rods 32 are welded in a position whichextends through the main post 1 in a manner that is secure enough towithstand forces applied from punching, kicking and the like.

The connector channel assembly 53 (FIG. 6) is attached to the main postassembly 1 (FIGS. 1.0, 1.1, and 7.0) first by placing compression springtwo 33 over the portion of the mounting rod 32 that extends from a side31 of the main post assembly 1 (FIG. 7.0.1). The channel connectorassembly (FIG. 6) is then placed onto the mounting rods 32 with themounting rods 32 passing through the bushing 28. The channel is thensecured by tightening a main post nut 67 to the threaded end of themounting rod 32 which may be done with a ratchet wrench accessing thenut through the access holes 55 and 60 (FIG. 6).

In one embodiment, the wall mount assembly may provide a number offunctions for the device: First, it is the most aggressive noise andvibration dampening mechanism on the device. When a device such as thisis mounted to a wall without proper noise and vibration reductiontechnology, the device may be disturbing to others in a building or homeand also potentially destructive or damaging to the wall itself; secondit is the structure that attaches the main post 1 to a wall 101. This isthe feature that eliminates the need for a partner to hold equipment.The third purpose of the wall mount assembly is to allow for springloaded movement (in conjunction with the caster assembly describedbelow) when the striking pad is struck with significant force. Thismovement provides a more realistic experience for the user because itsimulates the lifelike movements of an opponent.

In one embodiment, the wall mount assembly may include a spring assemblyas shown in FIGS. 8 and 8.1. The wall mount assembly (FIGS. 8 and 8.1)is attached to the main post assembly 1 by securing a front wall mountplate 44 to the main post 1 with the main post mounting bolt assembly45. Bolts 45 are passed through the main post assembly 1 and threadedinto two main post mounting threaded receiving holes 100.

The wall mount assembly is attached to the wall 101 via a rear wallmount plate 38 which in one embodiment is 1″×2½″×20″ plate of C.R.S,however it should be understood that an alternative size may be used.The rear wall mount plate 38 is anchored securely to a wall 101, inwhatever fashion necessary for it to withstand the punching and kickingforces applied.

Two mounting rods 39 are welded to, and extend from, the rear wall mountplate 38 (FIG. 8.1)

In order to minimize the noise and vibration generated from the use ofthe device, and to assist in providing the desired movement, oneembodiment has the following parts placed over the mounting rods 39 inthe order described here, starting from the wall and working outward. Itshould be understood that any rearrangement, modification, change orsubstation that achieves a similar significant noise and vibrationreduction would be acceptable, including the introduction ofcommercially available technologies from a third party remains withinthe scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, each of the mounting rods 39 first receives acompression spring 42 a, next a rubber cushion 43 a, is placed on therod and the spring fits inside of this rubber cushion 43 a and extendsbeyond the end of the rubber cushion 43 a. Next a washer 69 restsagainst compression spring 42 a, next a first bushing 70 a is insertedinto the washer 69 and inside of the compression spring 42 a, next abushing 70 a is inserted into the washer 69 and inside of thecompression spring 42 a. A second bushing 70 b is placed to abut thefirst bushing 70 a so the large ends of both bushings are in contactwith one another. A second compression spring 42 b is placed on thesecond bushing 70 b, a third bushing is placed at the end of the secondcompression spring. Next the mounting rods 39 are placed through thefront wall mount plate 44, a metal washer 71 and three felt washers 72are placed on the rod (with the metal washer 71 being placed against thefront wall mount plate 44), the mounting rods 39 are then fit into asecond rubber cushion 43 b with the assistance of a rubberbushing/grommet 73 for sizing. The assembly is held together by a knob49 which inserts into the second rubber cushion 43 b and is fastened tothe threads on the mounting rods 39.

Because the device is designed to provide a certain amount of movementwhen struck, the main post 1 must be able to move, and cannot be securedpermanently to a static floor or base structure. Therefore, the mainpost 1 must be mounted on a movement device such as a ball, wheel,caster 37, sliding track or other similar movement device. This deviceprovides support for the device as well as allowing for horizontalmovement. In one embodiment, the main post 1 is mounted on a caster 37and secured using mounting rod 36 to provide the necessary movement.(FIG. 7.0, 7.0.2, 7.1).

In another embodiment of the device, the striking pad assembly 9 (FIG.4.2) is attached directly to the main post (FIG. 2.1, FIG. 7.1). Thismay simplify the device from a manufacturing point of view, reduce thecost of the device, and in some operative conditions may achievesuperior performance.

This embodiment will therefore now have three components. The strikingpad assembly 9 which is directly attached to main post 7/34 which isattached to a wall mount assembly 4. The wall mount assembly 4 isconstructed and arranged to be mounted securely to a wall 101.

Referring to FIGS. 2.0, 2.1, 4.2 and 4.3, the striking pad assembly 9 isalmost identical to the striking pad 2 (FIGS. 1.0, 1.1, 4.0 and 4.1)used in the previous embodiment. The only component that changed is thepad connector plate 14 shown in FIG. 4.1 is replaced with pad connectorplate 16 shown in FIG. 4.3. In this embodiment of the pad connectorplate 16, the pad mounting plate top tab 51 and the pad mounting platebottom tab 52 are not present and are replaced with two pad connectorplate mounting holes 76. These holes are designed to line up withmounting rod 35 which is placed through the main post assembly 7/34.

Referring to FIG. 2.1 and FIG. 7.1, the main post assembly 7/34 issimilar to the main post assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1.0, 1.1 and 7.0referred to above. The difference is in the method of mounting of thestriking pad to the main post assembly 7/34. In this second embodiment,the striking pad assembly 9 is attached by placing a mounting rod 35(FIGS. 7.1 and 7.1.1) through holes 68 of the main post assembly 7/34and securing the mounting rod to a mounting hole 76 of the pad connectorplate 16. Mounting rod 35 is also shown as mounting rod 8 in FIG. 2.1.

The bushing assembly (FIGS. 9 and 9.1) may be identical to thatdescribed in the previous embodiment. Further, the main post assembly7/34 may be attached to the wall mount assembly shown in FIG. 8.0 thesame manner as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 4.5, another embodiment is provided. Striking pad17 is a modified Focusmaster™ torso pad (see admitted prior art).Focusmaster™ notes that the torso pad is not suitable to be used forkicking, therefore the covering of the pad must be removed and replacedwith a more durable material such as vinyl or canvas 21. One embodimentmay use a 14 oz per sq. yard PVC vinyl coated polyester; however, anysuitable material will be sufficient.

In another embodiment, the Focusmaster™ product may have a mountingplate provided with the product removed from the back of the pad. Padmounting plate 12 is then attached to the striking pad 17 in the samemanner as described in the previous embodiments using the threadedinserts that are already present in the Focusmaster™ torso pad.

A pad connector plate 18 must be fashioned to complete the assembly. Inthis embodiment, the plate may consist of ⅜″×8″×12″ CRS similar to thepad connector plate 16. Pad connector plate 18 will also have the sameseries of holes drilled into it as the previous pad connector plateembodiments.

In a further embodiment, the Focusmaster™ mounting connector is removedfrom the Focusmaster™ back plate and attached to pad connector plate 18.Testing has found that the Focusmaster™ back plate is inadequate towithstand the heavy hitting and kicking that the current embodiment isdesigned to handle. The Focusmaster™ product became fatigued and brokeduring our testing. It is therefore critical that a heavier dutyconnector plate, as described above, or its equivalent, be used.

The bushing assembly (FIG. 9) may be identical to that described for theprevious embodiments and is fitted on this embodiment in the same way,which may hold the entire assembly together.

A speed bag attachment shown in FIG. 10.0 can be easily and quicklyattached to and removed from any of the striking pads on the device. Thepurpose of the attachment is to greatly increase number of strikes andkicks that can be practiced with the device. The speed bag attachmentprovides an additional way for an athlete to practice upper cut strikesand side to side strikes. Further, it provides an excellent target forfront kicks and round house style kicks. The ability to move it to anystriking pad means it can be adjusted to various heights depending onthe ability and goals of the athlete.

Referring to FIG. 10.1, a standard, commercially available speed bag 80,with its loop 99 which has a bungee cord 81 running through it ispresented. The bungee cord will then pass through a large rubber grommet82. The grommet is then fitted into a reducer 84 which fits into amounting flange 86. The bungee cord is then passed through the 4 inchmounting flange 86 and is tied off with washers 90 at the point wherethe mounting holes 87 meet the wooden base 88. All of the abovecomponents are encased in a padded foam enclosure 85 that providesprotection for them from the athlete and protection for the athlete frombeing injured. The covering used in the current embodiment may be thesame covering used for the striking pad outer covering 21. Before thecovering is applied, nylon strapping 89 is secured to wooden base 88with wood screws 92 and washers 93. To secure the speed bag attachmentto the striking pad, wrap nylon strapping 89 around any of the strikingpad assemblies and secure with a D-ring 91.

What is claimed is: 1-20. (canceled)
 21. A striking apparatuscomprising: a substantially vertically configured main post; a pluralityof striking pads, each of the plurality of striking pads connected tothe main post by a spring assembly; a wall mount assembly connected tothe main post, the wall mount assembly constructed and arranged to bemounted to a substantially upright wall; and a movement device attachedto a bottom of the main post, the movement device constructed andarranged to allow movement of the main post in a substantiallyhorizontal plane along a substantially horizontal floor.
 22. Thestriking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of striking pads areconnected to the main post equidistantly from each other and insubstantially the same vertical plane.
 23. The striking apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the movement device is a caster assembly.
 24. Thestriking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement device is a rollermounted within a track of the floor.
 25. The striking apparatus of claim1 wherein each of the plurality of striking pads is removably connectedto the main post.
 26. The striking apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a second spring assembly connecting the wall mount assemblyto the main post.
 27. The striking apparatus of claim 6 wherein the mainpost further comprises a plurality of connector channel assemblies, oneof the plurality of connector channel assemblies positioned between eachof the plurality of striking pads and the main post, wherein a thirdspring assembly attaches the connector channel assembly to the mainpost, and wherein the first spring assembly attaches one of theplurality of striking pads to one of the plurality of connector channelassemblies.
 28. A striking apparatus comprising: a substantiallyvertically configured main post; a plurality of striking pads, each ofthe plurality of striking pads connected to the main post by a springassembly; a wall mount assembly connected to the main post, the wallmount assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted to a wall; and amovement device attached to a bottom of the main post, the movementdevice sized and positioned such that it contacts a floor, the floorbeing substantially perpendicular to the wall.
 29. The strikingapparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of striking pads areconnected to the main post equidistantly from each other and insubstantially the same vertical plane.
 30. The striking apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein the movement device is a caster assembly.
 31. Thestriking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the movement device is a rollermounted within a track of the floor.
 32. The striking apparatus of claim8 wherein each of the plurality of striking pads is removably connectedto the main post.
 33. The striking apparatus of claim 8 furthercomprising a second spring assembly connecting the wall mount assemblyto the main post.
 34. The striking apparatus of claim 13 wherein themain post further comprises a plurality of connector channel assemblies,one of the plurality of connector channel assemblies positioned betweeneach of the plurality of striking pads and the main post, wherein athird spring assembly attaches the connector channel assembly to themain post, and wherein the first spring assembly attaches one of theplurality of striking pads to one of the plurality of connector channelassemblies.
 35. A striking apparatus comprising: a substantiallyvertically configured main post; a plurality of striking pads, each ofthe plurality of striking pads connected to the main post by a firstspring assembly; a wall mount assembly connected to the main post by asecond spring assembly, the wall mount assembly constructed and arrangedto be mounted to a wall; and a movement device attached to a bottom ofthe main post, the movement device constructed and arranged to contact afloor, such that when the wall mount assembly is mounted to the wall,the movement device supports the apparatus while allowing movement ofthe main post in a substantially horizontal plane that is approximatelyperpendicular to the substantially vertically configured main post. 36.The striking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of striking padsare connected to the main post equidistantly from each other and insubstantially the same vertical plane.
 37. The striking apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the movement device is a caster assembly.
 38. Thestriking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement device is a rollermounted within a track of the floor.
 39. The striking apparatus of claim1 wherein each of the plurality of striking pads is removably connectedto the main post.
 40. The striking apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a second spring assembly connecting the wall mount assemblyto the main post.